Electrical precipitator



June 10, 1941. H. A. WINTERMUTE ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATOR Filed March 24, 1939 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 10, 1941. wlNTERMUTE 2,245,516

ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATOR Filed March 24, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mg gmgwuwrvboo:

. June 10, 1941.

H. A. WINTERMUTE 2,245,516 ELECTRICAL'PRECIPITATOR Filed March 24, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i r 76 75- 77 74 '78 Z? king/h,

trodes. on the discharge system is large or if the liquid Patented June 10, 1941 amc'rmcsr. rascirmiron Harry A. Wintcrmntc, Piainficld. N- 1., casino:- to

corpora" Research on, poration of New York l lewirorhNJh.acor-v Application March 24, 193, Serial No. 284,003

ICCIalmI.

discharge and collecting electrodes. 7 The nature of the liquid used may vary with diflerent types of gasesand may consist of water, aqueous solutions or non-aqueous liquids such as oils. In

gases in electrical Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the precipitator of Fi l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a vertical fiow precipitator embodying the invention;

many cases, the liquid apparently aifects favorably the condition of the gas or of the deposited material, but regardless of the mode of action the beneficial effect of such liquid sprays in the industrial application of electrical precipitation to a number of gases is unquestionable.

However, when a liquid spray is introduced into the gas just prior to its passage into the electric field or directly into the electric field, the liquid particles of the spray tend to impinge on the discharge electrode system. The high volt-' age electric field causes this liquid to be discharged towards the opposing collecting elec- Whenthe amount of liquid impinging collected on the discharge system is discharged from a few points, electrical breakdowns are caused even at voltages considerablybelow that at which breakdown normally occurs. Such breakdown necessitates operation at reduced I voltages which in turn causes low corona discharge. This reduction in voltage and corona discharge causes poor removal of the suspended particles from the gas undergoing treatment.

These disadvantages are avoided in the present invention by providing a shield member positioned to prevent impingement of the spray upon the discharge electrodes.

A principal object of the invention, therefore is to provide an electrical precipitator including means for introducing a finely divided liquid into the gas undergoing treatment and means for preventing impingement of the liquid upon the discharge electrodes.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating representative embodiments of the principles of the invention:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional-elevation of a horizontal flow electrical precipitator embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the precipitator of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation in partial section of a vertical flow pipe precipitator embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 6.is a sectional elevation on line E-6 of Fig. '7 or an electrical precipitator with upwardly directed spray; and

Fig. 'I is a transverse sectional elevation on line 'I-Jof Fig. 6.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the precipitator chamber comprises a body portion Ill, having gas inlet and outlet openings ii and i2, respectively, and a hopper bottom it. Mounted within the body-of the chamber'are a plurality of plate collecting electrodes it in electrical connection with the grounded shell Iii and a plurality of discharge electrodes consisting of rods l5 bearing discharge attenuated or pointed discharge elements. The rods 15 are mounted in parallel sets on members l8 which are carried on members i! supported by rods i8 from insulating bushings I9, which pass through heated insulator compartments 20. The transverse members ii are advantageously provided with attenuated discharge elements, such as coiled wire 24, to prevent deposition of solid or liquid particles thereon.

Compartment 2| is furnished with a plurality of downwardly projecting spray nozzles 22 which supply a liquid spray to the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes. Mounted below the spray and extending above each parallel set of discharge electrodes are a pinrality of shield members 23 which prevent direct impingement of the spray on the members of the discharge electrode system, and direct the spray and coalesced liquid to points adjacent the collecting electrodes. I

Discharge elements 24 eliminate any tendency for liquid dropping off the shields to be drawn in towards the high tension supporting members I. by providing a discharge eflective to drive the drip and spray toward the collecting electrodes. L Arch members i'lispanning the high tension electrode supports it between adjacent collecting electrodes tend to prevent undesirable arcing by providing a more uniform field distribution at the point where the high tension supports pass out of the inter-electrode space.

. Perforated plates 25 at the gas inlet and outlet are provided for better distribution of the gas to the various portions of the precipitator and hopper baille plate 26v is helpful in maintaining the distribution.

It will be seen that the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 provides means whereby a horizontally flowing stream of gas may be subjected to :a high tension electric held between discharge and col-' lecting electrodes while supplying a spray of liquid particles to said field without impingement 01 said particles on the discharge electrodes; and that it includes means providing a line or 'zone of corona discharge along the sup-' porting members of the discharge electrode structure whereby attraction of liquid or solid particles to such members is prevented.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of the principles of the invention in a vertical flow precipitator. The precipitator comprises a rec- ;tangular shell 30 provided with a gas inlet or outlet 3i and gas outlet or inlet 32. Supported within the precipitator are a plurality of vertical collecting electrode plates 33 in electrical contact with the grounded shell and, between the collecting electrodes, a plurality of insulatedly supported discharge electrode rods 3| carried in.

flowing into the electric fleld between the discharge and collecting electrodes. Suspended in the upper end of each collecting electrode pipe by spiders 62 are conical shields 63 which prevent impingement of the liquid particleson the discharge electrodes.

Discharge points Bid at the upper ends of the discharge electrodes serve the purpose of preventing drip from the shields from being pulled in toward the upper end of the electrode.

In the precipitator shown in Figs. 6 and 7, liquid spray is projected into the electric field between the discharge and collecting electrodes by means of paired rotating cylindrical members similar in principle of operation to the spray devices described in my copending application to prevent deposition of solid and liquid particles positioned above the discharge electrode assemblies as to shield the discharge electrode system from impingement of the spray. Manifold; ll

supply flushing liquid to the reservoirs, although they may be entirely supplied from vthe spray males The reservoirs preferably are provided with depending skirts Ilia, which aid in securing a uniform flow of flushing liquid throughout the length of the collecting electrodes. It will be obvious that the roof-type shields of Figs. 1 and 2 can be used in the precipitator of Figs. 3 and 4, while the reservoir shields oi the latter precipitator may be used in place of the rooi iike shields in the precipitator of Figs. 1 and 2.

Hoppers 42 are preferably provided to conduct the sludge dropping from the bottom of the coli I electrode I. The discharge electrodes are mounted on supporting members 51 which are suspended at each end from insulator bushings I! in insulator housings I9. sloping sleeves Cl which pitch toward the interior of the chamber prevent liquid from running alongmembers 1 mm the insulator housing.

- Serial No. 201,631, flled April 12, 1938.

The'precipitator comprises a shell 10 having Spray is projected into the interelectrode space by means of opposed cylindrical members 80 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows, and dipping into a pool of liquid in reservoir 8!. The spray is prevented from impinging on the discharge electrode system by shielding plates 82 positioned between the source of spray and the discharge electrodes.

. It will be seen that the invention comprises a I wide variety of means for providing a mist of liquid particles in the interelectrode space of an electrical precipitator while shielding the discharge electrode system irom impingement of liquid particles.

. I claim; a

1. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, spray-producing means positioned to project a mist of liquid particles directly into the to project a mist of liquid particles downwardly into the space between the discharge and col;

: lecting electrodes and shield members in electrical connection with the collecting electrodes positioned between the source of liquid particles and thedischarge electrodes to preventimpingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes. I

3. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of 'gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, spray-producing means positioned to project a mist of liquid particles upwardly di- In the upper portion of the precipitator chamber area plurality of spray nozzles 6|, which supply a mist of liquid particles to the gas stream rectly into the space between the discharge and A collecting electrodes and shield members positioned between the source of liquid particles and the discharge electrodes to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes while permitting direct projection of mist :into the inter-electrode space.

4. An electrical precipitator comprising means for gas into said chamber and an outlet for gas out of said chamber, opposed discharge and collecting electrode members in said chamber, spray devices positioned to projecta mist of liquid particles directly into the spacebetween the discharge and collecting electrodes; and shield members in electrical connection with the collecting electrode system and positioned to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes while permitting direct projection of mist into the inter-electrode space.

5. An electrical precipitator comprising means defining a chamber, opposed discharge and collecting electrode members in said chamber, means providing a passage for gas through said chamber between the discharge and collecting electrode members, spray devices positioned to project a mist of liquid particles directly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes, and shield members in electrical connection with the collecting electrode system and positioned to prevent impingement. of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes while permitting direct projection of mist into the interelectrode space.

6. An electrical precipitator comprising means defining a chamber, opposed discharge and colwhile permitting direct projection of mist into the inter-electrode space.

10. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes,'means for introducing a mist of liquid particles directly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes and shield members positioned within the space defined by the collecting electrodes and between the source of liquid particles and the discharge electrodes to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes while permitting direct projection of mist into the inter-electrode space.

lecting electrode members in said chamber,

means providing a passage for gas through said chamber between the discharge and collecting electrode members, spray devices positioned in the gas stream to project a mist of liquid particles directly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes, and shield members in electrical connection with the collecting elecchamber between the discharge and collecting electrode members, spray devices positioned above the discharge and collecting electrodes to project a mist of liquid particles into'the space between the discharge and collecting. electrodes, and shield members in electrical connection with thecollecting electrode system and positioned to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes.

8. An electrical precipitator comprising means defining a chamber, opposed discharge and collecting electrode members in said chamber, means providing a passage for gas through said chamber between the discharge and collecting electrode members, spray devices positioned below the discharge and collecting electrodes to project a mist of liquid particles directly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes, and shield members in electrical connection with the collecting electrode system and po sitioned to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes while permitting direct projection of mist into the interelectrode space.

9. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, means for introducing a mist a: liquid particles directly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes and shield mem-' 11. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, means for introducing a mist of liquid particles downwardly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes and shield members positioned between the source of liquid particles and the discharge electrodes to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes, said shield members comprising liquid collecting reservoirs providing a substantially uniform supply of liquid to said collecting electrodes.

12. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, means for introducing a mist of liquid particles downwardly into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes and shield members positioned between the source of liquid particles and the discharge electrodes to prevent impingement of the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes, said shield members comprising liquid collecting reservoirshaving downwardstantially uniform supply of liquid to said collect- I ing electrodes.

13. In apparatus for the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, means for introducing a mist of liquid particles into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes, shield members positioned between the source of liquid particles and the discharge electrodes to prevent impingement or the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes, and discharge producing elements positioned between said shieid members and said discharge electrodes to :prevent drip from the shields from being attracted to the discharge electrodes.

14. In an electrical precipitator, a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, two collecting electrodes mounted in said chamber to define a gas passage therebetween, an insulated high tension member supporting and positioning at least one discharge electrode in said passage, spray-producing means positioned to project a mist of liquid particles into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes, said high tension member being positioned between the discharge electrode supported thereby and the spray-producing means, and shield members positioned between said spray-producing means and said high tension member.

15. In an electrical precipitator, a chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, two collecting electrodes mounted in said chamber to define a gas passage therebetween, an insulated high tension member supporting and positioning at least one discharge electrode in said passage, sprayproducingmeans positioned to project a mist of liquid particles into the space between the discharge and collecting electrodes, said high tension member being positioned between the discharge electrode supported thereby and thespray-producing means, and shield members electrically connected to the collecting electrodes positioned between said spray-producing means and said high tension member.

16. In apparatus tor the electrical treatment of gas including opposed discharge and collecting electrodes, spray-producing means positioned to project a mist of liquid particles into thespace between the discharge and collecting electrodes,

shield members positioned between the source of liquid particles and the discharge electrodes to prevent impingement. or the liquid particles on the discharge electrodes, and discharge producing 5 elements connected to said discharge electrodes and opposing said shield members to prevent drip from the shields from being attracted to the discharge electrodes.

- HARRY A. WINI'ERMUTE.

H CERTIFICATE OF ICORRECYTIOIF. Patent No. 2,21 16; r i Jnne: 1o, 19in.

HARRYA. WINTERMUTEQ It is hereby eertified that error eppear s in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction es follows: Page 5, first column, line 70, and second" coltimn, lines 5, 16, 28 and -l4l, c1a'ims 9; 10., ll, 12 and 15 respectively, for the words "means for introducing" read "spray-producing means positioned toproject -g and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same ma conform to the record of the case. in the Patent Office.

Signedand sealed this Bth-day of July, A.v D. l9hl.

Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

